heavy lift

English

Noun

heavy lift (plural heavy lifts)

1. The handling and installation (on means of freight transport) of heavy items that are indivisible.
2. (figurative, by extension) A requirement that requires a lot of work to satisfy; high bar, tall order.
   • 2023, Haaland v. Brackeen (U.S. Supreme Court No. 21-376), Justice Barrett (majority opinion):

     When a federal statute applies on its face to both private and state actors, a commandeering argument is a heavy lift—and petitioners have not pulled it off.

Related terms

• heavy lifting